Starbucks is well known for its Pumpkin Spice Latte's. The PSL has become the unofficial marker of the start of fall across America.
It is no secret that this drink is packaged with calories, sugar and is not exactly a healthy start to the fall, or any day for that matter. But, does it actually provide a caffeine boost similar to other Starbucks drinks or is this just a brilliantly marketing sugar bomb?
What is the caffeine content of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte?
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Hot Latte when ordered without any modifications will contain roughly 9.3 mg of caffeine per ounce for a total of 150 mg of caffeine in a 16-ounce Grande.
The caffeine content of lattes comes from brewed espresso that is mixed in with steamed milk.
| Serving Size | Caffeine (MG) | Sugar (G) |
| 8 oz (Short) | 75 | 25 |
| 12 oz (Tall) | 75 | 38 |
| 16 oz (Grande) | 150 | 50 |
| 20 oz (Venti) | 150 | 63 |
Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte's Caffeine Content Considered High?
At 9.3 mg of caffeine per brewed ounce and 150 mg in just the Grande Size, the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks is about as caffeinated as most standard coffee shops' regular hot coffee and comes in way behind the Starbucks Veranda Blend which has 360 mg of caffeine per 16 ounce brew.
Their Venti (20 oz) also has 150 mg of caffeine in just one serving. This is due to the fact that the larger drink has more milk and the same amount of espresso shots as the grande.
Since the FDA states 400 mg of caffeine is generally considered as safe for healthy adults, drinking one of these should not be an issue. Any consumption of two or more in one day can cause caffeine related side effects.
Caffeine In Other Starbucks Drinks
|
Drink |
Short (8oz) |
Tall (12oz) |
Grande (16oz) |
Venti (20oz) |
| Bottled Frappuccino | N/A | 110 mg (13.7oz) | N/A | N/A |
| Breakfast Blend | 170 mg | 280 mg | 375 mg | 445 mg |
| Cafe Americano | 75 mg | 150 mg | 225 mg | 300 mg |
| Nitro Cold Brew | 215 mg | 280 mg | N/A | N/A |
| Pike Place | 155 mg | 235 mg | 310 mg | 410 mg |
| Pumpkin Spice Latte | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 150 mg |
| Veranda Blend | 180 mg | 270 mg | 360 mg | 425 mg |
HOW LONG DOES CAFFEINE STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM?
Caffeine has a half-life of 6 hours, meaning that half of the amount you consumed will be out of your body within 6 hours. The other half will take another 4-6 hours to leave, so that means you'll need to wait 12 hours for complete clearance from your system. But this is just an average; some people may clear it more quickly than others due to individual factors such as age and genetics.
Comparison to other drinks
| Average Caffeine Content | MG of Caffeine |
| Black Insomnia Coffee | 1105 |
| Bang Energy | 300 |
| Pumpkin Spice Latte | 150 |
| 80 | |
| Coca-Cola Classic | 34 |
How Many Calories And Sugars Does Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Have?
This is where the drink gets a bad reputation. The 16 ounce Grande size has 390 calories and 50 grams of sugar. According to Heart.com adults should not consume more than 30-35 grams of added sugar each day. This means one Pumpkin Spice Latte blows your entire days allotment of added sugar and then some.
Ingredients In Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Where To Buy?
While the Pumpkin Spice Latte can only be ordered at your local Starbucks, you can find their pumpkin spice coffee K-Cups at most grocery stores and with free prime delivery from Amazon.
Looking for something else? Check out all the coffee options from Meadow Ridge Coffee.
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